Example Essay
Assignment:
Books are often recommended from one friend to another.
Decide whether the book you read was something you think another
eighth grader would enjoy. In a well planned essay of 4-5 paragraphs,
recommend the book to other eighth graders or explain why this book
would not be a good choice. Include the title and author within the
text of the essay.
Planning:
Identify:
Puropse:
Why is this book a good book for an eighth grader?
Or
Why is this book not a good book for an eighth grader?
Audience: Another eighth grader
Or
A teacher
Format: Essay 4-5 paragraphs
Thesis: There are many reasons why an eighth grader should read The
Hunger Games. (Or…There are three main reasons why an eighth grader should read
The Hunger Games.)
Or
There are many reasons why an eighth grader should not read The Hunger
Games. (Or…There are three main reasons why an eighth grader should not read The
Hunger Games.)
Working the Plan:
Write the thesis on top of the page. Break the page into “chunks” for each of the
examples you will use. Write the key word (in this case “reasons” )in each “chunk” with
an example and details to prove the thesis. Each example MUST support the thesis
statement.
Thesis: There are three main reasons why an eighth grader should read The
Hunger Games.
_____________________________________________________________________________
REASON #1: it has action
TOPIC SENTENCE:
EXAMPLE: Katniss has to retrieve a backpack with medicine to save Peeta’s life.
DETAILS: She had to run to the Cornucopia and grab a pack before the other
tribute get to it or kill her. While she is running to the nearest pack another tribute
attacks her. Katniss kills the other tribute and returns to the jungle with the pack.
________________________________________________________________________
REASON #2: it has romance
shows about one another caring
TOPIC SENTENCE:
EXAMPLE: Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta so that they will survive.
DETAILS: When Katniss finds Peeta hurt, she realizes that she must help him.
She also realizes that if they work together they have a better chance of surviving. She
first must help him get well. The longer they are together, the stronger the bond they
have grows. Even though she doesn’t realize it, she cares for Peeta a great deal. She
risks her life for him by getting water, and eventually going to the Cornucopia to get the
backpack that they so desperately need.
__________________________________________________________________
REASON #3: it shows a lesson self sacrifice
TOPIC SENTENCE:
EXAMPLE: the incident of the berries
DETAILS: After the Capitol has said that there can be two “winners”, Peeta and
Katniss defeat all the other tributes. At the last minute, after they have both remained
the only two survivors, the Capitol changes its mind and says that there can only be one
winner. Katniss and Peeta decide to defy the Capitol, and threaten to both eat poisoned
berries, so that there will be NO winner. This would be a disaster for the Capitol
***************************************************************
Now, go back and write the topic sentence for each example.
_____________________________________________________________
REASON #1: it has action
TOPIC SENTENCE: One reason eighth graders would enjoy this book is because
it has action.
EXAMPLE: Katniss has to retrieve a backpack with medicine to save Peeta’s life.
DETAILS: She had to run to the Cornucopia and grab a pack before the other
tribute get to it or kill her. While she is running to the nearest pack another tribute
attacks her. Katniss kills the other tribute and returns to the jungle with the pack.
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
REASON #2: it has romance
shows about one another caring
TOPIC SENTENCE: Another reason The Hunger Games would be a good book
for eighth graders to read is that it shows how important it is for people to care about
one another .
EXAMPLE: Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta, so that they will survive.
DETAILS: When Katniss finds Peeta hurt, she realizes that she must help him.
She also realizes that if they work together they have a better chance of surviving. She
first must help him get well. The longer they are together, the stronger the bond they
have grows. Even though she doesn’t realize it, she cares for Peeta a great deal. She
risks her life for him by getting water, and eventually going to the Cornucopia to get the
backpack that they so desperately need.
________________________________________________________________________
REASON #3: it shows a lesson self sacrifice
TOPIC SENTENCE: The last reason that this is a great book for eighth graders
to read is that is shows the lesson of self sacrifice.
EXAMPLE: the incident of the berries
DETAILS: After the Capitol has said that there can be two “winners”, Peeta and
Katniss defeat all the other tributes. At the last minute, after they have both remained
the only two survivors, the Capitol changes its mind and says that there can only be one
winner. Katniss and Peeta decide to defy the Capitol, and threaten to both eat poisoned
berries, so that there will be NO winner. This would be a disaster for the Capitol.
Now, write the Introduction:
Rephrase the topic sentence (ts) from the assignment:
ORIGINAL TS FROM THE ASSIGNMENT: Books are often recommended from one
friend to another.
REPHRASED TS: Friends often recommend books they enjoy to other people.
Write the title author sentence:
In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, we meet the characters Katniss Everdeen
and Peeta Mellark.
Give background information:
The story takes place in a universe where the country (Panam) is broken up into twelve
districts. Every year, each of the districts must sacrifice a boy and a girl between the
ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the “Hunger Games”, a battle to the death. Only one
child will survive “The Hunger Games”, which is a gala televised event. Peeta is chosen
by lottery and Katniss volunteers to take her sister, Prim’s place.
Write the Thesis Statement:
There are three main reasons why an eighth grader should read The Hunger Games.
Now, write the Clincher (or Conclusion):
Reword the thesis so that it sounds different:
ORIGINAL THESIS: There are three main reasons why an eighth grader should
read The Hunger Games.
REWORDED THESIS: Eighth graders who love action, adventure, and romance,
will thoroughly enjoy The Hunger Games.
Reread your essay and think about what you have said. What
inference can you make based on the book and what you have said.
Have you noticed something about the characters or the style the
author uses about which you can make a conclusion?
SENTECE #2: Throughout the book, Katniss finds the strength to overcome any obstacle she
faces.
Write a general statement that relates the book to some aspect of life,
or perhaps something we can learn…
SENTENCE #3: Perhaps the author is trying to show that we all have an inner strength to get
us through the darkest of times.
Put it all together into a cohesive essay!!
It is time to write the draft.
English 8 period 9
Book Report: Recommendation
Selma Studious
February 21, 2022
Friends often recommend books they enjoy to other people. In The Hunger Games by Suzanne
Collins, we meet the characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. The story takes place in a universe
where the country (Panam) is broken up into twelve districts. Every year, each of the districts must
sacrifice a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the “Hunger Games”, a battle to
the death. Only one child will survive “The Hunger Games”, which is a gala televised event. Peeta is
chosen by lottery and Katniss volunteers to take her sister, Prim’s place. There are three main reasons
why an eighth grader should read The Hunger Games.
One reason eighth graders would enjoy this book is because it has action. Katniss has to retrieve
a backpack with medicine to save Peeta’s life. She had to run to the Cornucopia and grab a pack before
the other tribute get to it or kill her. While she is running to the nearest pack another tribute attacks
her. Katniss kills the other tribute and returns to the jungle with the pack.
Another reason The Hunger Games would be a good book for eighth graders to read is that it
shows how important it is for people to care about one another. Katniss pretends to be in love with
Peeta, so that they will survive. When Katniss finds Peeta hurt, she realizes that she must help him. She
also realizes that if they work together they have a better chance of surviving. She first must help him
get well. The longer they are together, the stronger the bond they have grows. Even though she
doesn’t realize it, she cares for Peeta a great deal. She risks her life for him by getting water, and
eventually going to the Cornucopia to get the backpack that they so desperately need.
The last reason that this is a great book for eighth graders to read is that is shows the lesson of
self sacrifice. After the Capitol has said that there can be two “winners”, Peeta and Katniss defeat all the
other tributes. At the last minute, after they have both remained the only two survivors, the Capitol
changes its mind and says that there can only be one winner. Katniss and Peeta decide to defy the
Capitol, and threaten to both eat poisoned berries, so that there will be NO winner. This would be a
disaster for the Capitol.
Eighth graders who love action, adventure, and romance, will thoroughly enjoy The Hunger
Games. Throughout the book, Katniss finds the strength to overcome any obstacle she faces. Perhaps
the author is trying to show that we all have an inner strength to get us through the darkest of times.